Vehicles pass the toll plaza on the New York State Thruway, Aug. 7, 2013 in Yonkers. E-ZPass celebrates their 20th anniversary this year. / Tania Savayan/The Journal News

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A plan for all-electronic toll collection on the Tappan Zee Bridge and at two sites on the New York State Thruway raises questions about how the Thruway Authority will ensure everyone pays the toll.

As toll agencies across the country switch to completely cashless systems, a growing number have sought legislation for more power to crack down on toll violators.

Thruway officials in the past have said they would push for legislation to block vehicle registration renewals of chronic evaders, but there are no signs state lawmakers will take up the issue soon. Thruway Authority spokesman Daniel Weiller declined to discuss such a proposal, except to say in an email that the agency “continues to work closely with other state transportation agencies and our partners in the New York State Executive branch and Legislature to advance legislation relating to the collection of unpaid tolls.”

In 2012, the Tappan Zee generated $129.6 million in toll revenue, with some 20 percent of its users paying with cash, according to Thruway officials and records.

That cash option is set to be eliminated in 2015. To make way for the Tappan Zee replacement, the current toll plaza will be torn down and replaced with an all-electronic system, which will likely become permanent when the new bridge is completed in 2018.

The Thruway Authority is also working on a program to test all-electronic collection at toll facilities in Yonkers and Harriman, Orange County.

An all-electronic system features steel frames called gantries over the roadway, allowing traffic to pass beneath at highway speeds.

The gantries are equipped with technology to read E-ZPass transponders and take images of license plates.

For vehicles without E-ZPass, a bill is mailed to the address where the vehicle is registered.

If drivers fail to respond to the notices, the Thruway Authority doesn’t have power to pursue them beyond civil litigation or sending their debts to a collection agency.

State Sen. David Carlucci, D-New City, said he would support legislation to pursue toll scofflaws more aggressively.

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“Their delinquency ends up hurting law-abiding Rockland and Westchester residents in the form of higher toll costs,” he said in an email. “I believe all options need to be on the table, which is why I am currently researching legislation to provide the Thruway Authority more leverage to crack down on the worst offenders that abuse the system.”

An Albany Bureau investigation last year found that between 2007 and 2011, nearly 80,000 vehicles without E-ZPass zipped through those lanes on the Tappan Zee and didn’t pay subsequent bills.

Those toll evaders racked up $7 million in uncollected tolls and fines.

When toll agencies completely eliminate cash lanes and gates, collecting tolls becomes even more challenging, said Neil Gray, spokesman for the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association.

“It’s a clear line in the sand: Until you square with agency X, you can’t do this necessary thing,” Gray said. “It’s a very effective mechanism.”

Maryland, for instance, enacted a law this year that allows the Maryland Transportation Authority to work with the state’s department of motor vehicles to block vehicle registration renewals or, in some cases, immediately suspend the registrations.

“It gives Maryland more teeth to collect unpaid tolls,” said John Sales, public affairs manager for the authority.

For drivers without E-ZPass, a photo is taken of their license plates and a bill is mailed to the address where the vehicle is registered. Under the new Maryland law, drivers without E-ZPass have 30 days to pay the toll before they are slapped with a $50 fine.

“If they continue not to pay it over time, we will move on to the more aggressive tactics with the vehicle registration,” Sales said.

If drivers rack up more than $1,000 in debt, their vehicle registrations are immediately suspended, he said.

A law passed in Texas this year goes even further. Drivers with 100 or more unpaid tolls — defined as “habitual violators” under the new law — could have their vehicles banned from certain roads.

Drivers who don’t comply with the ban face a $500 fine, an impounded vehicle, or both, Susan Slupecki, spokeswoman for the North Texas Tollway Authority, said in an email.

“This new legislation will help guarantee that millions of (Tollway Authority) customers who pay for the service are not forced to shoulder the costs of the small percentage that choose to ignore multiple requests for payment,” she said.